Cat Chat

God Bless Charlie - may he rest in peace xxxx

2011-02-07T21:22:00.000Z

I've been on a sabbatical of late.I've been very ill over Christmas and then my poor Charlie got ill.

I've been plucking up the courage to write this entry because I suppose after I've written it it means that it's all final and Charlie is gone forever.

I started writing this blog over two years ago when I first found Charlie and I never expected to be saying goodbye to him two years later.

He was such a handsome and charismatic feline.As a kitten, he was fearless and cheeky, always on the attack in a playful way.

Over the last year he matured and became very laid back and affectionate.

We would have our daily rituals - some that I'm finding hard to break.

Even last night I had a glass of milk - and then thought to myself I would have to hide it from Charlie - he could sniff out a glass of milk a mile off!

I miss coming home to him at night. Sometimes he would wait in the window for me and when he saw my car pull up he would run down to greet me at the door. Or if he could hear me talking downstairs in the living room, he would come marching in to see where I was.

But most of the time he would be napping on my bed and when I came in my room he would jump up and come straight over to me for a stroke and a hug.

He was my little baby and I'm going to miss him so much. The extent of his loss hasn't even hit me yet and sometimes I think people think I'm strange.

The fact of the matter is that bereavement of a pet is very real and sometimes even just as upsetting as losing a loved one.

Our pets become part of our lives and in my case Charlie became my best friend.

My fiance Mike and I had planned our lives with Charlie in it - we didn't want a house on a busy road and we wanted a large garden for Charlie to roam around in.

Around January 17, Charlie started to become withdrawn and very tired. He wouldn't go out which was unusual because he loved to hunt.

I thought that maybe he was feeling a bit down and tried to play with him, but he wasn't interested.

The last few times I thought Charlie was ill, I had taken him to the vets and found out that there was nothing majorly wrong with him.

After a week had passed I decided to take him to the vet. She told me that she thought he had a kidney infection and he would have to be kept in overnight.

The last time I held him, I kissed him and told him I loved him, he perked up ever so slightly and whipped his tail playfully.

The next morning on January 25, I received a phone call to say that Charlie had died in his sleep.

There is no word to describe the complete devastation I felt and still feel - there is a huge Charlie-sized hole in my heart.

The vet carried out a post-mortem and found that Charlie had a fatal and incurable illness Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP).

Once FIP develops from the coronavirus in a cat's body, it kills swiftly and mercilessly. A cat diagnosed with dry FIP can sometimes live for two or three months and wet FIP, where the abdomen or lungs fill with fluid, kills almost immediately.

There was nothing I could do, but I still fell like that I should have known something was wrong.

We buried Charlie in the garden and Mike made a lovely grave for him.I'll always love Charlie - but for now I'm just trying to get over his death.

Information on pet bereavement: Blue Cross Pet Bereavement, Living with Pet Bereavement and Pet Bereavement Counselling.For more information on FIP click here, here, here and here.

Vets warn that cats could be obese within a decade

2010-12-03T08:18:00.000Z

Spotted this on the Daily Mail website.Vets are warning half of of cats will be too fat to fit through a standard cat flap within ten years.

The average feline is expected to weigh 11lbs by 2020, officially obese for a normal sized animal and pushing the limits of conventional flaps.

Around a third of cats and dogs currently treated at surgeries are obese, with the excess weight creating serious health problems in many pets.

Experts say this will rise sharply as cats mirror the trend in humans for eating huge portions and failing to take enough exercise.

Read more here.

Catwoman Lee Meriwether on Twitter!

2010-11-04T18:26:00.000Z

I WAS so excited when I opened my emails to see that Lee Meriwether - Catwoman in the original 1966 Batman film was following me on Twitter and Charlie is made up too!It's such an honour!

The beautiful Lee played Miss Kitka Karenska and her feline alter ego.

She also made numerous appearances in many of the hot TV series of the 60s like Star Trek, Land Of The Giants and Mission: Impossible - I remember watching these shows when I was little!

But not only that - Lee also starred in one of my all-time favourite shows.The former Miss America starred as Lily in the in the 1988-1991 revival of the hit 1960s television show The Munsters, entitled The Munsters Today.

So this little post is to say thank you Lee for all your great shows! Charlie thinks your purrfect! Make sure you follow @LeeMeriwether and don't forget @CatChatCharlie!

VIDEO: 100 cats star in new Ikea advert

2010-10-27T12:29:00.000+01:00

I never thought I would say this but for once I wish I didn't have Sky +!I know - shock horror! The reason being is because I have only just stumbled upon the new Ikea advert - it's full of cats!

Usually I fast-forward through all the adverts but one glimpse of a whisker and I had to press PAUSE!What I found was the most fuzzy feline feeling in my stomach as all these cutie kitties leaped across my screen.

But if you think the adverts good you have to check the making of it!The Ikea cats have their own youtube page and Herding Cats looks behind the scenes at all the cats who starred in the advert.

Lib Dem MP's wife accused of stealing kitten from her husband's mistress

2010-10-23T13:09:00.000+01:00

A Lib Dem MP's wife has appeared in court accused of stealing a kitten - from the woman who got her claws into her husband.

Christine Hemming, 52, allegedly burgled the home of 32-year-old Emily Cox in September and took a tabby called Beauty.

MP John Hemming, 50, fathered a daughter with researcher Miss Cox five years ago.

When magistrates asked Christine if she wanted to be called Mrs or Miss, she said: "I'm not quite sure at the moment."

She did not enter a plea and the case has been ordered to go to crown court.

But after the hearing, Christine admitted she had been in the house and taken the £20 cat.

She said: "In retrospect it was a mistake. I put myself in harm's way. I should not have gone.

"I knew she wasn't in. I just went there, bent down and picked up the cat and then I thought it was about time to leave the house and I took the cat but it was not the reason I went there. I'd like to make it up with the offer of another cat.

"It was only a young cat and a relationship had not developed that much. I'm prepared to buy a similar kitten."

She added: "Relations between Emily and I have never been good. They should have improved but deteriorated significantly."

Mr Hemming still lives with his wife in Moseley, Birmingham, but yesterday described his domestic status as "unclear".

And last night he arrived at the nearby home of Miss Cox, a Lib Dem city councillor, with their daughter, Isabel.

Mr Hemming said: "I'd just like the cat back. I've spent time looking for the kitten. Her brother, Twinkle, is pining for her."

The Birmingham Yardley MP had earlier posted a picture of missing Beauty on his blog with a message saying: "If anyone has seen this kitten please contact me at the House of Commons.There's a reward for its return."

Recruitment agency boss Christine was released on bail yesterday on condition she does not contact Miss Cox.

When Christine found out about the relationship in 2005, she stood by her millionaire husband and said that the six-year affair was "about number 26".Source: The Mirror

Wheelie bin cat dumping woman fined £250

2010-10-22T12:29:00.000+01:00

Mary Bale. Source: The Guardian

A bank worker who sparked international outrage after dumping a cat in a wheelie bin has been fined just £250 after a judge declared that public vilification was punishment enough.

Mary Bale, 45, became a hate figure when she was caught on CCTV stroking the four-year-old tabby before picking it up by the scruff of its neck, dropping it into the bin and closing the lid.

She appeared close to tears as she admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the animal at Coventry Magistrates' Court.

A second charge of failing to provide the cat with a suitable environment, contrary to the 2006 Animal Welfare Act, was dropped.

District Judge Caroline Goulborn told Bale that she could potentially have caused substantial harm to the cat, but acknowledged that in reality it had not been hurt.

Handing down the fine, she said: "The media interest in this case has resulted in you being vilified in some quarters and I have taken that into account."

Judge Goulborn, who was told Bale's elderly father was gravely ill at the time, added: "I accept that you were in a stressful situation at the time, but that's no excuse for what you did."

Bale was also ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and legal costs of £1,171.4. She was banned from keeping or owning animals for the next five years.

The court heard that Bale - who had faced a maximum fine of £20,000 or up six months' imprisonment - could provide no answer as to why she had acted in such an "impulsive and irrational" way.

She has resigned from her job as a result of the incident and has also been suffering from depression. Bale, whose father died last Thursday, left the court without comment.

RSPCA Inspector Nicola Foster said she hoped the case would act as a deterrent to anyone who feels it is acceptable to mistreat animals.

She added: "This was a deliberate act and could have had far worse consequences as the defendant had no way of knowing if there was anything like broken glass in the bin, nor how long the cat would be there before she was found, nor if the bin was due to be emptied.

"We are pleased that the Court agreed that a complete disregard was shown for the cat's welfare and that the cat suffered/cat's needs were not met as a result of being stuck inside the bin for so many hours."

Bale was caught in August after footage showed her approaching the cat, called Lola, who was sitting on a garden wall. Bale looked both ways before picking her up and dumping her in the bin.

The terrified animal was trapped for 15 hours before her owners Stephanie Andrews-Mann, 24, and husband Darryl, 26, finally found her the following morning.

The couple then reviewed CCTV and posted a 1:27 video of the callous incident on YouTube in a bid to catch the culprit.

Bale, who lives alone in a terraced property in Coventry, was identified within a matter of days and was forced into hiding after she found herself at the centre of a public outcry.

She was signed off work and two PCSOs from West Midlands Police guarded her house.

A Facebook page set up by Mr and Mrs Andrews-Mann to identify the person responsible received tens of thousands of followers with many angry cat lovers posting threats against her.

A group called Death to Mary Bale was swiftly removed by moderators of the social networking site.

She initially said she binned the feline as ''a joke'', adding: ''It's only a cat.'' But she apologised and described it as "a split second of misjudgement that has got completely out of control."

Outside court, David Murray, defending, stressed that Bale wished to apologise for her actions and "bitterly regretted" what she had done.

He said: ""Despite a lengthy period of soul-searching she cannot still explain her behaviour and wishes to again repeat her apology to the owners of Lola.

"For a moment's aberration she has paid a significant price. She has received hate-mail, abusive telephone messages and death threats.

"Sadly, her father passed away last Thursday and she now wishes to be with her mother and family and offer them support during this period of grief." Source: Telegraph.co.uk

Pink Panther: Woman admits to dying her kitty pink

2010-09-27T14:01:00.000+01:00

A cat found with pink fur and found by the RSPCA was dyed pink by her owner who wanted its fur to match her hair.Defiant Natasha Gregory said she was proud of her actions - and would even do it again.

The 22-year-old mother-of-two admitted using food colouring to turn the short-haired cat's fur a vivid shade of pink.

The fluorescent feline, named Oi! Kitty, is now so bright that she glows in the dark.

She told the Daily Mail: "It's my favourite colour, I just love it."

"I've dyed my own hair pink and I adore wearing pink clothes. Turning Oi! Kitty pink just seemed like a good idea."

Oi! Kitty's shocking appearance sparked an RSPCA investigation after she was found roaming in a back garden.

A nationwide appeal was launched to find the person responsible for dyeing her white fur, with animal welfare officers believing it was a sick prank.

But after seeing the widespread media coverage, Natasha contacted officials to claim back her pet, which had gone missing days before.

The self-described 'animal lover' who lives with her boyfriend of five years Michael Dennis, along with his daughter and their own two children, then confessed to dyeing the cat pink.

"I read the instructions on the bottle of food colouring and there was nothing to say that it was harmful to humans or animals. We eat the food the dye is used on, so I knew it wasn't toxic.

"I just poured some of the liquid over my hands and robbed them together and then over the cat. I was careful to avoid her face and eyes though.

"She didn't seem to mind and I think she looked lovely.

"I have contacted the RSPCA to get her back and the lady I spoke to said she didn't think it would be a problem. But I'm going to have to wait until they go back to work today."

Despite being branded cruel by vet Penny Gillespie, who has been caring for the cat since she was found in a back garden, Natasha Gregory said she doesn't regret doing it.

"People have made this massive cruelty thing out of just food colouring. People do it to dogs. You often see it with dogs on TV so what's the difference with a cat?

"I would never hurt an animal. It's just food colourant. I would never put proper dye on an animal but I know food colourant is alright."

Woman tries to smuggle tiger cub on plane in luggage

2010-09-09T09:16:00.000+01:00

A two-month-old tiger cub was found sedated and hidden among stuffed-tiger toys recently in the luggage of a woman at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

The World Wildlife Foundation reports the 31-year-old Thai national was scheduled to board a Mahan Air flight destined for Iran when she had trouble checking in her oversized bag.

Airports of Thailand staff suspected something amiss when they scanned the bag and x-ray images showed an item resembling a real cat.

Officers from the Livestock Development Department and the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department were then called in to open the bag for inspection and discovered the tranquilized cub.

Investigations are underway to determine if the cub was wild caught or captive-bred, where it came from and the suspect's intended final destination.

VIDEO: Woman dumps cat in wheelie bin

2010-08-24T13:17:00.000+01:00

This has been all over the media in the past 24 hours - as far as New Zealand and San Francisco.

This woman has obviously had a moment of madness - I don't know what could possess anyone to do this to a defenceless creature.A

According to Sky News, she has now been offered police protection after being identified by the RSPCA.In the video the woman briefly caresses the pet - but glances around nervously to make sure no one is watching.

She then opens a wheelie-bin, grabs the moggy by the scruff of her neck and throws her in, shutting the lid. The woman then hurries off.

Lola was trapped for 15 hours overnight until her owners, Darryl Mann and wife Stephanie Andrews-Mann, heard her meowing for help the following morning.

The cat was unhurt but Stephanie, 24, raged yesterday: "I find the entire thing sickening. I cannot believe someone would do this to an innocent family pet. Lola was a rescued cat and was wary of people when we first got her.

"She has a lovely disposition and wouldn't hurt a fly. This is what makes the attack on her so shocking."

Darryl, 26, who found Lola in the bin, at first thought she had climbed in herself. He learnt the shocking truth when they watched footage from a CCTV camera they installed outside their Coventry home two years ago after their car was repeatedly hit by careless motorists.

Darren said: "I came down to feed Lola but couldn't find her anywhere. "It was really hot day and I searched outside and nearby alleyways.

How to remove a tick from a cat

2010-08-14T20:54:00.000+01:00

Charlie may as well be feral!

Poor sod came in from the garden and brought along a creepy friend.

I was stroking him around his neck when suddenly I felt a bump.I parted his fur and found a sight I hope never to across ever again - a little beastie!

Indeed it was a tick and being the sort of person who can't stand insects I nearly fell of the bed in fright!

But I soon learned it would be removing the tick which was going to be the hardest part.

Luckily I found a handy little video on the internet!

First, I found some point tweezers. Next you have to grab hold of the tick's head as close to the skin as you can.

Then you have to pull firmly making sure not to squeeze the tick, or you could leave its head inside! Eurgh!

Don't be surprised - you have to give it a good yank, I thought it would never come out!After removing the tick, flush it down the toilet.

Unfortunately, cats will pick up fleas, mites and ticks, so be sure to check your pet's fur regularly.

Surprisingly, Charlie was well behaved throughout the whole ordeal, apart from the occasional clawing attempt and hiss!Hope this helps!

Funny cat video of the week: Surprised Kitty!

2010-08-08T23:03:00.000+01:00

We've not had a cute kitty video for a long time - this one is great!

Yoga meditation music helps cats relax

2010-08-01T10:39:00.000+01:00

Charlie's not been well lately or at least he seems that way - lounging about on my bed barely being able to lift his head.

Now a study shows that when they are unwell, cats became less stressed when they listen to relaxing music.

Student veterinary nurse Sian Barr carried out the research on cats being treated at a vet's surgery.

She found that those who were played yoga meditation music and Om Shanti tunes calmed down and began to breathe more slowly while in cages at the practice in Powys, Wales.

Miss Barr, who has just graduated from veterinary school with a first class honours degree thanks to her research, said: "Stress in small doses can be a good thing, such as if a cat is under stress to eat, then it can perform better.

"But otherwise, it will have a negative effect, such as in a veterinary practice.

"This is because a cat is in a cage and isn't able to do what it would like to do, so stress levels will increase and it will become wound up and angry.

"This is bad for not only its behaviour, becoming difficult for staff to handle, but also for its immune system and ability to heal."

Miss Barr, of Waterlooville, Hants, studied cats when they were first admitted by assessing their ear and eye activity, how they were communicating and respiration levels.

The 21 year old then split them into two groups, only one of which was played the relaxation CDs.

She added: "I then repeated the test after 40 minutes and was able to assign each cat a cat stress score.

"By comparing the scores, I found the music had a dramatic effect on respiration rates, with those exposed to the music decreasing to a relaxed rate much quicker than those not exposed."

Well, I'll just stick some easy listening on for Charlie, should perk him up!

Cats and Dogs 2: The Revenge of Kitty Galore in 3D

2010-07-27T15:50:00.000+01:00

Really excited about this! My sister has been quoting lines from the first film all week to me!

Cats and Dogs are back for another film - and this time they are on the same side!

The natural enemies join forces to stop Kitty Galore, a former agent with cat spy organisation MEOWS who is looking to take over the world.

Watch an exclusive clip here.It's all in good humour, but I can't help wondering why does Hollywood have it in for cats?

Dogs are these loveable animals who obey their owners and wag their tails but cats are portrayed as evil, crazy and calculating, just like supervillain Mr Tinkles in the original 2001 film.

This time he is portrayed as a certain Chianti-drinking psychopath from Silence of the Lambs.Having said that Mr Tinkles is my favourite character - I love all his plotting and one-liners.

For more on this theory read this.The film, which combines puppetry and computer animation, is out in 3D on August 4 so get your tickets booked! I'm getting mine!

Ashes of Coronation Street cat Frisky sold for over £800

2010-07-25T23:24:00.000+01:00

The ashes of the Coronation Street cat, Frisky, who died ten years ago, have been sold at auction for almost six times the expected price.

Furious bidding by soap fans meant the wooden casket carrying the cat's remains fetched a whopping £844 at an auction in Gloucestershire!

The tabby cat starred in the starting sequence of more than 1,000 episodes of the Manchester soap.

The lot, which was sold to a private bidder, also included a cremation certificate and postcards of Frisky with other Weatherfield stars.

His owner, John Rimington, from Leeds, said before the auction he hoped the ashes would go to an "avid Corrie fan".

Frisky, who won the role in 1990 after beating off competition from 5,000 other cats, died in 2000 from stomach cancer at the age of 14.

Cat undergoes water therapy after being paralysed

2010-07-23T13:48:00.000+01:00

Swimming has helped one unlucky cat learn to walk again.

The Turkish Van from New York became paralysed after being injured in June.

Now with the help of hydrotherapy he is learning to use his muscles again.

Nazzaning's owner Florence Rostami believed that she had broken her paw.Florence inquired about physical therapy for Nazzaning and was excited to find out that hydrotherapy was an option.

"I was very happy," she said. "Turkish Vans are natural swimmers, and I thought that this might wake up her instinct.

"Now her balance is better and she is walking on her own," said Florence. "I really believe that if she didn't go to therapy, she may not have found the confidence to walk again." See the full story here.

Cat burglar Oscar loves stealing underwear

2010-07-09T08:53:00.000+01:00

I LOVE LOVE LOVE stories like this!

I'm sure if Charlie was an underwear-stealing cat, my mum would be much happier with him bringing home a bra or knickers here or there - rather than something with a heart beat!

Once again, the BBC have the best cat stories!

Oscar the cat has been bringing a different type of 'gift' home for his owner.

Instead of small rodents or birds, Oscar has gone up market and taken a liking to ladies underwear.

After bringing home about 70 items owners Peter and Birgitt Weismantel decided to tell police in Southampton.

Peter said: "When we let him out in the garden he started bringing us back gardening gloves and bits of rubber gloves and then he went up market and started bringing back children's knickers.

"Then it began to escalate and I telephoned the police as people must have been missing clothes, especially with women's underwear being taken.

"But he just doesn't stop and he's still doing it now."

Well Oscar certainly must have good taste!

Why do cats like boxes?

2010-07-05T14:25:00.000+01:00

I've had a busy weekend gardening - well my fiance Mike has!

I left some empty boxes from our garden furniture on the patio and Charlie just couldn't resist climbing inside.

But what is it about boxes that appeal to cats so much?

Well, if it is small in area and has at least three sides, your cat will probably climb inside and make himself comfortable.

It isn't difficult to imagine why cats like being enclosed. They feel snug and protected in smaller, defined places.

Cats have a natural need for warmth and protection, their ever-present instinct tells them to be alert to dangers that might sneak up on them when they are dozing.

If the enclosure has a top, that's even better.

You should make sure your pet has a variety of snug places where he can curl up and take a nap.

We've also been cutting down brambles and weeds at the bottom of our garden.

Charlie is not happy - he was hiding out in the shrubbery keeping a close eye on us tearing down his empire!

VIDEO: Pioneering vet gives cat new prosthetic feet

2010-06-25T15:40:00.000+01:00

This is a great story - having just got back from Jersey myself - I learned about Oscar the cat, a native to the island who was having a lovely nap in a field when a combine harvester came along and cut off his hind paws....poor Oscar!

Oscar was immediately referred to Dr Noel Fitzpatrick, a Surrey-based neuro-orthopaedic surgeon by his local vet in St Saviour in Jersey But owners Kate and Mike Nolan were unsure whether to risk the surgery.

Kate said: "We had to do a lot of soul-searching and our main concern has always been whether this operation would be in Oscar's best interests and would give him a better quality of life."

Once the Nolans understood the treatment and discovered the operation could have an impact on human medicine, surgery was arranged.

His new kitten heels were designed with custom-made implants, which "peg" the ankle to the foot and mimic the way deer antler bone grows through skin.

Oscar's transformation, which has left him resembling a feline Ahab, has been described as a case of science copying the natural world.

In a three-hour procedure, the veterinary surgical team inserted the pegs by drilling into one of Oscar's ankle bones in each of his back legs.

The implants, which are attached to the bone at the amputation site, were coated with hydroxyapatite to encourages bone cells to grow onto the metal.
The skin then grows over a special "umbrella" at the end of the peg to form a seal against bacteria and potentially fatal infections.

The peg protrudes through the bone and skin, allowing the custom-built artificial paws to then be securely attached.

Oscar was trying to stand a day after the surgery and, despite some problems with infection, he was able to bear weight equally on all four limbs within four months.

What a brave kitty!

Russell Brand admits caring for a kitten is preparing him for parenthood

2010-06-19T16:57:00.000+01:00

Russell Brand has revealed the real reason why he adopted a kitten with his fiancee Katy Perry - the pet is preparing the couple for parenthood.

The pair, who will marry in October, recently purchased a baby cat, who they have named Krusty, and the British funnyman admits looking after the young creature is helping them hone their parenting skills.

He tells Britain's Radio Times, "That's why we've got a kitten. It's perfect training for having kids. Since being with Katy, I've got this masculine urge to protect."

He added: "It's lovely this kitten but it's got no concept of moderating its conduct. It just climbs all over my head."

Indian psychic called in to find missing cat

2010-06-17T11:39:00.000+01:00

The BBC love their kitty stories:

A CAT lover from Lincolnshire has called in an Indian psychic to help find her missing moggy.

Oliver, a four-year-old tabby and white cat, went missing from Boothby Graffoe in October.

Owner Sue Machen, 56, has paid £1,000 for Hertfordshire-based company Animal Search UK to hunt for the animal.

It has employed psychic Sarita Gupta, who is based in Bangalore, to help in the search, a move which has been criticised by a sceptics' society.

Ms Gupta believes the cat has been adopted as a stray by a new family, who do not know he has an owner.

Ms Machen said: "The expense [for the search] is immaterial.

"I am just desperate to know what has happened to him. I am hoping he has wandered off and been picked up by someone."

Tom Watkins, who is leading the search, said: "We have had some good publicity and we are building up a picture of where Oliver might be.

"We are hoping the psychic is right and we will receive a call about where Oliver is. "That would be mission accomplished if we can achieve that."

The team said a missing cat in Birmingham had been found in a Wendy house after the same psychic said it would turn up "where children play".

A spokesman for the Merseyside Skeptics Society said: "Looking at the advice given by the psychic in both cases, we have the suggestion that the cat is staying with another family, and the idea that lost cats like to be near children.

"Both of these are incredibly obvious scenarios to suggest for a missing cat, and would likely be the suggestions you'd get from someone without psychic powers - and without the need for a fee, too."

World Cup goalkeeper 'The Cat' awarded MBE

2010-06-14T18:48:00.000+01:00

Ex-England keeper Bert Williams has been awarded an MBE, in the Queen's honours list.

The 90-year-old nicknamed 'The Cat' for his innovative keeping style was thrilled by the news which came on the day England played there first game against the USA in the World Cup 2010.

But Robert Green is not the first keeper to fumble the ball against the superpower - Bert is remembered for being between the posts in England's most humiliating defeat - 1-0 to America in the 1950 World Cup.

Despite this 'The Cat' has been recognised as one of the best keepers in history.And he claims he had the shot covered until it deflected in off a US player.

He told the Shropshire Star: "I've got 180 photographs and hundreds of scrap books - I get so much pleasure from them because they bring the memories flooding back."

Congrats to Bert on his MBE!

Cats explain the entire series of LOST in one minute

2010-06-09T15:05:00.000+01:00

I'm back from my holidays and I have been vigorously recording all my favourite TV shows while I've been away.

Not had time to watch the LOST finale yet but I heard about this video which combines my two favourite things - LOST and kitties!

This is hilarious!

Is your cat always on the hunt for birds?

2010-05-24T11:49:00.000+01:00

I've just come back from a spot of hunting, browsed a few magazines and now I'm going to curl up for a nice nap.

Gemma is always moaning and telling me off when I bring her little gifts.

What can I say? I love the taste of little birdies in the morning.

She's always trying ways to stop me hunting - and half the time her efforts succeed - damn you Gemma!

She puts big bells on my collar, so the little birds can hear me when I come.

She's always feeding me, I do like to eat though, I think she's trying to encourage me to stay closer to home, I'd like to see her catch me!

I'm only really allowed to go out in the day, not too early and not too late - which is a shame because that's when I can usually find a little vulnerable birdie to feast on.

There's also lot spiny plants like holly and thorn bushes around the bottom of trees in the garden, I try my best to get up there though!

Anyway, my cat nap is calling me! Miaow for now! Charlie xx

Charlie is shortlisted in Go-Cat BOBO awards!

2010-05-22T14:56:00.000+01:00

So the owner thinks she can desert me hey?

ell while the mice are away the cat will play...or something like that!

Anyway...it's Charlie here and I have some fabulous news!

Wait for it...I have been shortlisted in the Go-Cat BOBO Awards who are searching for the most active cat - that would be me!

Check me out on the website here.I'm a very handsome cat - I think I've got a good chance of winning!

What do you think?Chow!Charlie xx

Cats on holiday!

2010-05-21T14:38:00.000+01:00

Hello Cat Chatters!

I'm off to sunny Gran Canaria on hoilday, so for the next couple weeks I will leave you in the capable paws of Charlie.

I'm very excited because everytime I go to GC I see lots of wild cats!

There are all sorts of cats in all different colours and they are very friendly - don't get jealous Charlie.

Anyway see you soon!xxxx

Oh no! Charlie has worms! Advice and symptoms...

2010-05-12T20:39:00.000+01:00

Charlie has been very poorly - he's doesn't stop eating but he doesn't seem to be putting on weight.

Then yesterday, he started throwing up - poor Charlie!

To my absolute horror - there were creatures wiggling in his vomit!

The poor sod has worms - no wonder he's so hungry!

I'm a bit upset that I didn't recognise the symptoms they can include vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss or a dry and dull coat.

Worms may be observed in the vomit or in the faeces.

Intestinal parasites of cats can infect humans and small children are particularly at risk.

If a cat has tapeworms, the signs will not usually show until it starts to expel little white, or off-white, bits that will be seen near the cat's anus.

The bits are about the size of a sesame seed and look similar as they dry up.

Charlie does a lot of hunting and tapeworms are picked up by cats from infected fleas which they may have gotten from wild kills of birds, mice and other animals.

Tapeworms are easily treated by an over-the-counter medication at a good vet supply store or like I did with Charlie take your pet straight to the vet.

Poor Charlie - you'll be better soon!

iPad proves a big hit with musical cat Iggy

2010-04-29T14:53:00.000+01:00

The latest cat viral doing the round show Iggy the cat playing with Apple's new iPad.

The iPad is due for release at the end of May - Charlie will have to be very good if he wants one - prices start at £500 up to £1,000.Check this out!

Liverpool cat nominated for Go-Cat BOBO award

2010-04-22T16:26:00.000+01:00

A moggy from Liverpool is in the running to be crowned Britain's most adventurous cat after his owner, Graham Mullen, entered him into the Go-Cat® BOBO AWARDS, a nationwide search for the UK's most fearless feline.

Always on the hunt for his next escapade, Woody has been nominated for his sense of adventure and free-spirited nature.Go-Cat recently launched the BOBO AWARDS in honour of Bobo, the amazing, acrobatic free-running star of Go-Cat's latest TV ad, to celebrate courageous cats that live life to the full, just like Bobo.

Woody is certainly shaping up to rival Bobo, he loves to play hide and seek and his most recent adventure saw him disappearing for an entire morning, to later be found sitting happily on a milk float after doing the rounds with the local milk man.

If you think your cat is as adventurous and daring as Woody then what are you waiting for?

Enter your cat into the Go-Cat BOBO AWARDS to be in with a shot of winning a fantastic once-in-a-lifetime safari to the wilds of Africa with a chance to see really big adventurous cats in action.

There's also a whole host of runner-up prizes that will keep the most adventurous cat lovers entertained - from a day learning circus skills to an afternoon of hovercraft flying.

Go-Cat spokesperson, Alison Ashman, says: "We're looking for cats of all ages with bucket loads of cat'itude, who live life to the full and have extraordinary adventures. Whether they're intrepid explorers, plucky climbers or brave rescuers, we want to hear your stories."

Well better get Charlie's entry sent in then!

Kim Kardashian's kitten handling sparks outrage

2010-04-20T12:45:00.000+01:00

Kim Kardashian has staunchly defended her controversial handling of a kitten.

The reality show star prompted outrage among animal activists after holding the feline aloft by the scruff of its neck for a Twitter pic.

Kim insists her unconventional kitty carry was by no means cruel to the animal - but animal rights charity PETA vehemently disagree.

A spokesperson said: "Kim Kardashian isn't the only person who mistakenly thinks that because a mother cat picks up her kittens by the scruff of the neck that a supportive hand under the rump isn't needed."

However, Kim is adamant she did no wrong.She said: "I have been getting negative comments regarding the way I was holding the kitty, but rest assured, the owner and vet were on set and showed me how to pick him up.

"The cat was not harmed in any way and is perfectly fine! I love animals and would never do anything to harm any animals."

Postmen refuse deliveries after being chased by elderly cat

2010-04-13T11:20:00.000+01:00

Tiger, a 19 year-old black and white cat, has been accused of attacking postmen on three occassions delivering mail in Leeds, west Yorkshire.

Owner Tracy Brayshaw, of Farsley, Leeds, said the postmen have complained that Tiger attacks them as they approach the cat flap, before chasing them down the garden path.

Mrs Brayshaw now has to collect her mail from the local sorting office.

She said: "If Tiger climbs up a tree he is done in for the rest of the week. I find it really hard to believe.

"The post has been suspended for two weeks now. It was funny at first but it is going a bit far now."

Mrs Brayshaw is hoping to appeal against the decision to suspend her post. Read more on The Telegraph website.

New Zealand cat warns owners about blaze with wet paws

2010-04-11T21:52:00.000+01:00

Saw this on a New Zealand news site - a moggy awoke his neighbours by wetting his paws in the toilet and walking over his owner's face.

Owners Kate Gatonyi and partner Bevan Garland awoke to find a fire just three metres from their bedroom window.

Kate said Maceo the cat often played with water but had never put his feet in the toilet bowl. He usually just meowed if he wanted to get attention at night, she said.

Funny cat video of week: Cat adopts bunny rabbit

2010-04-09T21:36:00.000+01:00

This is the cutest thing I've ever seen!

The purrfect office cats plus Dewey the library cat

2010-04-07T15:33:00.000+01:00

I think having a cat in the office is a brilliant idea - but I don't think the boss would approve.

For me, cats are relaxing and having Charlie in the newsroom would certainly cheer me up.

One company in Kansas, America has not one but TWO office cats.The appearance of a couple of stray cats about 15 years ago has helped define River City Studio's corporate culture.

The company specialises in graphic design and marketing.Feline friends Yoda and Melia are part of the furniture and are even featured on the company's website!

Well, Charlie has his own blog so the next stage it just sneaking him into the office...

Another famous cat - Dewey the Library Cat - was well-known for his antics at Spencer Public Library in Iowa.

Librarian Vicky Myron wrote a book about how his presence in the library not only soothed the staff but the library-goers as well.It's an excellent read, so give it a go.

My two favourite loves: cats + wine = Hello Kitty Wine!

2010-04-05T12:05:00.000+01:00

Hello Kitty are releasing four new wines but only in the in the US at the moment!

All four varieties are produced and bottled in Italy.

The grapes are grown in the Lombardy region and the new wines come from wine maker Dino Torti.

All but one of the wines come in 750 ml bottles, while one is in a 375 ml bottle.

The 2006 Hello Kitty Devil Red Pinot Nero comes from the Borgogna Vineyard and is described as a classically rendered pinot noir.

The pink label features a black Hello Kitty complete with horn and tails, but also with the telltale bow and a pink heart.

The Hello Kitty Angel White Pinot Nero label, as one might expect, features a white Hello Kitty with angel wings along with her bow and heart.

The 2008 white wine is made from free run juice.Next up is the Hello Kitty Sparkling Brut Ros©. Each bottle includes a souvenir Hello Kitty pink pendant. It is characterized as having a 'light pink color, perlage fine and persistent, sweet flower scent and light spice, harmonious taste thanks to the very balanced natural sparkling with the structure.'

Finally, the Hello Kitty Sparkling Sweet Pink comes in a half-size bottle and features a more traditional Hello Kitty on the label. It is described as fine Sparkling Rose wine 'with delicate pink color, perlage fine and persistent, elegant aroma of flowers, smooth with a hint of almond.'So ladies snuggle up to your cats and crack open a bottle of Hello Kitty!

8 out of 10 cats don't know where their fish comes from

2010-04-01T10:33:00.000+01:00

You may have made you home and car energy efficient but what about your pet?

The authors of a recent book, Time to Eat the Dog? warned that the energy required to feed a cat is the same as that required to build and drive a Volkswagen Golf for 6,000 miles a year.

Now there is a way do reduce your cat's carbon paw print.

Later this year the UK's 8m cat owners will, for the first time, be able to feed their kitties their favourite fish with a clear conscience.

The manufacturers of Whiskas and Sheba are to become the first to sell products using Marine Stewardship Council-certified fish, which is caught sustainably and without threatening further dwindling stocks.

While eight out of 10 cats are likely to have no opinion on the provenance of their fish, Mark Johnson of manufacturer Mars Petcare said people were increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability.

"The End of the Line film [a documentary about overfishing] has had a big impact," said Johnson, the company's UK general manager.

We are now the first pet company to make a commitment to sustainable fish, and we hope that will act as a catalyst for the whole industry."

Supermarkets have been quick to respond to rising human demand for sustainable fish, with the Co-operative eliminating threatened species from its own-brand products and Marks & Spencer recently becoming the first high-street name to sign up to WWF's new seafood charter.

But pet lovers have so far been limited to giving their animals human food such as sustainably caught tinned tuna: an expensive way to limit their pets' ecological impact.

(Well, in Charlie's case it's a good thing he is not keen on fish! I hear rabbits and poultry are much lower impact than fish and red meat.)

While cats and dogs may seem unlikely environmental villains, UK pet owners buy 1.5m tonnes of food a year and globally there are an estimated 750m pets who consume 20m tonnes annually.

The new MSC-certified Whiskas and Sheba will be on sale in December - with a pledge to source all its fish globally from sustainable sources by 2020.For more visit The Guardian website.

Cat comes 'back from the dead'

2010-03-25T15:47:00.000Z

Dug this out from the Daily Mail: Alfie the ginger tom came back to life nine months after apparently being killed by a car.

Owner Angelo Petrillo buried what he believed to be his pet's battered body after a friend spotted it on the side of a road near his home.

Soon afterwards Mr Petrillo, 39, and his wife Katy moved house, along with their other cat Freddie, also a ginger tom.

But a few days ago, they received a phone call from their former neighbour.

'They said a ginger cat had been trying to get into our old home, going up to the front and back doors, and they thought it was ours. But we said Freddie was asleep with us so there must have been a mistake.

'Then they said the cat was climbing on to the conservatory and trying to get in the bedroom window, which is exactly what our two did.

'My wife and I looked at each other, and she said "Are you totally sure it was Alfie that you buried?", and I said "Yes, 100 per cent".'

The next day, however, the neighbours said the cat had remained outside all night, meowing pitifully.

Mrs Petrillo, 35, a manager for a wine company, returned to the couple's old home a mile away - and immediately recognised the cat as Alfie.

The three-year-old had lost the collar he used to wear and had put on weight, suggesting someone else had been looking after him while he was being mistakenly mourned.

Mr Petrillo said: 'It was just unbelievable - the cat I had buried nine months earlier, the cat we spent about a month grieving over, was back, and my wife just couldn't believe what she was seeing.'

Mr Petrillo had examined the body of the cat found beside a sliproad on the M62 near their home in Milnrow, Greater Manchester, last June and was convinced it was Alfie.

But nine months on, the family are overjoyed that he was wrong - everyone, that is, apart from their other cat, five-year-old Freddie.

'They're not getting on very well at the moment, but hopefully he'll settle in again,' said Mr Petrillo. The couple are having both cats microchipped to ensure there is no confusion if either goes missing again.

Funny cat video of the week: 'Meerkittens at play'

2010-03-22T21:13:00.000Z

I'm starting a new feature for my blog and by the title you've guessed it - each week it will feature cute cats getting up to feline fun. Check this out!

Woodlands Animal Sanctuary will close without your help!

2010-03-19T12:29:00.000Z

Last October, Charlie and I visited Woodlands Animal Sanctuary in Holmeswood and Charlie had the chance to stay in their cat hotel.

But now the Sanctuary have announced they only have enough funding to remain open for the next three weeks, before the situation becomes desperate.

The charity, which was formerly known as Southport Cats Protection, is currentyl home to scores of rabbits, birds, goats and of course cats, but money is running out and the centre could soon be forced to close its doors to new admissions.

Woodlands is staffed entirely by volunteers and owner Jaqui McDerby has promised that no animals will be put to sleep.

Daughter Vickie added: "We are asking people to a) donate money or set up a direct debit or b) come forward for new homes.

"If just 300 people were to set up a standing order of £3 a month that would give us some security.

"We have people that give us a monthly allowance at the moment, but that doesn't cover half our costs."There are no full time staff - we are all volunteers."

Vickie added that any money donated would be spent entirely on the animals."Feeding, neutering, general vets costs that's all the money is spent on, that and the up keep of the sanctuary.

"For example, the hedgehogs costs £200 each through the Winter.

"They come in cold, they have to be hand reared and given medication, anti-biotics and vitamin injections, all the food.

"And we've 30 hedgehogs in at the moment."

And it's not just Woodlands who are feeling the strain, other animal charities are in need of help.

"The RSPCA brought cats to us last week because they are so busy," Vickie said.

A recent Winter Ball raised £1,600 for the sanctuary and a barn dance is planned for April to raise further funds.

Vicky added: "You feel like you are back to the same people saying you want more money - there's only so much you can ask of the same people and so we need people that have never helped us before to come forward."

To find out more about helping the registered charity log on to www.animalsanctuary.org.uk, call 01704 823293 or buy a ticket for the barn dance at Rufford Village Hall on April 17 for £12.

Cat survives for a month in a chilled food warehouse...by eating frozen peas

2010-03-05T15:34:00.000Z

Just spotted this on the Daily Mail website.

A cat has survived after being trapped for four weeks in a chilled food warehouse - by eating frozen peas.

The feline managed to survive temperatures of -2C (-28F) for a month in the warehouse before it was finally rescued by the RSPCA.

The 12-month-old black and white tabby cat, who has been nicknamed 'Frosty' by RSPCA staff, is believed to have survived by eating frozen peas and licking moisture off icy food packets.

Frosty, who is believed to have been trapped in the warehouse after entering in the back of a lorry, was spotted by staff in the warehouse early last month but escaped numerous attempts to catch him.

The large warehouse is maintained at a constant temperature with its main doors closed except when large articulated lorries arrive to deliver or remove palletised cargo.

Staff believe Frosty may have been too frightened to leave when he had the opportunity because of the noise and activity around the main doors.

The RSPCA caught Frosty in a humane trap after leaving it overnight baited with cat treats, milk and water. The poor cat had to have parts of his ears and tail amputated after the ordeal because of frostbite.

I'm so happy he's okay - if anything like that happened to Charlie I'd be devastated!

RSPCA inspector calls for cat owners to be more responsible

2010-03-04T16:38:00.000Z

RSPCA inspector Ian Robertson is calling for cat owners to be more responsible after the 'worst week of his career' for dealing with abandoned cats.

Ian said the problems have been caused by people moving out of their homes and leaving their cat behind.

In some cases new tenants have been forced to look after cats abandoned by the previous occupants as the RSPCA shelter in Birkdale is full to capcity.

Ian told Cat Chat: "This has been the worst week of my career for having to deal with abandoned cats.

"In one case the family had moved to a foreign country which must have taken some time to plan, so they could have contacted us and given us time to find a home for the cat.

"Abandoning a household pet is an offence which can lead to imprisonment of up to 51 weeks and a fine of £20,000.

"If people want to give up their cat they should contact us and we can help rehome it."

If you need help rehoming a cat call 0300-1234-999. People who want to give a new home to an abandoned cat can call the RSPCA kennels on 01704-567624.

Cat has over 1.5 million followers on Twitter

2010-03-03T17:15:00.000Z

A cat from Massachusetts in America has over 1.5 million people following him on Twitter(Well, that means Charlie's got a long way to go!)

The cat's owner Jason Scott said he opened the Twitter account to post catlike musings from his feline's point of view.

Jason 37, said he started the "inner monologue" micro-blog for his cat, Sockington, in 2007 and the Twitter feed now has 1.5 million followers and has even inspired a rap song.

Scott said his goals include "breaking up the self-important and bland Twittering" and sharing Sockington's "life of boredom" with the world.

"If you have a cat," he said, "you realise their life is mostly food and sleep."

He said the posts are mostly centered around those themes. "HMM YOU ARE VERY INTERESTING TO ME oh it looks like you're finished eating NOT QUITE AS INTERESTING ANYMORE," one post reads.

VIDEO: Toilet training your cat

2010-02-26T11:25:00.000Z

I found this video report on the Wall Street Journal website about training cats to use the toilet.

Reporter Anne Marie Chaker describes the trial and tribulations of getting her kitty Mr Tibb's to 'go toilet'.

I can see why some people would want to toilet train their cat, if they are house cats and live in a flat or apartment, but I think Charlie would have none of it.He has excellent toilet habits.

When I first got him he knew exactly what to do over a litter tray.Now he's usually out all day, so he does his business while he's out and about on the prowl.

I do keep a litter tray on my bedroom though, just in case he needs to use it in the middle of the night, but the litter is still fresh - he hasn't used it once.

In fact, when he does need the toilet he wakes me up to be let out. I try to place him in the litter tray and he will just get out, shaking his feet and looking rather bewildered.I suppose when nature calls he wants to do it outside!

Cat food to fight plague of cane toads in Australia

2010-02-25T13:23:00.000Z

Australia's poisonous plague of cane toads may finally have met its match - and it comes in a tin of cat food.

After years spent trying to batter, gas, run over and even freeze the toxic toads out of existence, scientists say just a dollop of Whiskas could stop the warty horde.

The cat food attracts Australia's carnivorous meat ants, which swarm over and munch on baby toads killing 70% of them.

University of Sydney professor Rick Shine told ABC: "It's not exactly rocket science. We went out and put out a little bit of cat food right beside the area where the baby toads were coming out of the ponds.

"The ants rapidly discovered the cat food and thought it tasted great.

"The worker ants then leave trails back to the nest encouraging other ants to come out there and forage in that area, and within a very short period of time we got lots of ants in the same area as the toads are."

Australia is beset by millions of cane toads after they were introduced from Hawaii in 1935 to control scarab beetles.The toads, which are prolific maters, eat anything and are incredibly tough, secrete poison that kills pets and wildlife and injure humans, prompting several unsuccessful campaigns to wipe them out.

"Even the ones that don't die immediately, die within a day or so of being attacked," Shine said, adding that native frogs were able to dodge the hungry ants.

"It's a simple, low-risk way of reducing the number of baby toads coming out of those ponds."

Tim Burton on Alice in Wonderland and the Cheshire Cat

2010-02-22T17:12:00.000Z

I love Disney's Alice in Wonderland - the Cheshire Cat was my favourite character.But now oddball director Tim Burton known for The Nightmare Before Christmas and more recently Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is getting his claws into the Lewis Carroll classic.

But Tim is not a cat-lover...but we won't hold that against him.Early on in the making of Alice in Wonderland director Tim Burton had very strong feelings about one of the characters - and it wasn't what you would call a good feeling.

He told the Los Angeles Times: "The Cheshire Cat was a character I had a very specific image of and it's because I just have this thing about cats.

"The Cheshire Cat taps into what you might call my hatred of cats."

Actor Stephen Fry handles the character in the film and Burton praised him for capturing the unsettling mind of a feline.

"Stephen Fry did a great job of getting that creepy quality. You know, this weird kind of floaty, too-focused, creepy - he did it great.

"He has this thing of getting up close and just sitting there and staring at you, you know, like a cat. It just kind of sits there."

Burton made a noise, not unlike a tabby struggling with a hairball.

"I have this thing with cats. And with Cheshire Cat it's a love-hate relationship. You can, uh, hear it in my voice can't you?"

*Alice in Wonderland is out in cinemas next month.

Italian TV chef axed after recommending cat stew on National Cat Day

2010-02-17T15:11:00.000Z

An Italian chef has been axed after he said during his popular lunchtime cookery show that cat meat was one of the best animals he had ever tasted.

His remarks came after mentioning how, in the desperate conditions of post-war Italy, some people had taken to boiling stray mogs.

Beppe Bigazzi was explaining about traditions in Tuscany, where he comes from, and how cat meat was popular in the 30s and 40s.

As his co-presenter, Elisa Isoardi, looked on aghast, the 77-year-old told viewers that, far from being a last resort in times of near-famine, gatto in umido was "one of the great dishes of the Valdarno [in Tuscany]".

The secret, he disclosed, was to leave the cat in a fast-running stream for three days.

"What comes out is a delicacy", he enthused. "Many a time I've eaten its white meat."Isoardi, herself a cat owner, tried to interrupt, but to no avail.

"Cat in a thick sauce was "better than chicken, rabbit or pigeon", he said.

During a commercial break, the producers unsuccessfully attempted to persuade the celebrity gourmet that he should apologise when the programme resumed.

Soon afterwards, the switchboard was jammed with calls from appalled viewers.

Bigazzi was today on Italy's National Cat Day, quoted by the newspaper Corriere della Sera as saying he had been referring to events in the past, adding: "You can't judge things from 70 years ago".

Poor cat gets head stuck in Whiskas food tin

2010-02-16T12:58:00.000Z

A cat in Fife has wandered into a rescue centre with its head stuck in a tin, the BBC reports.

The female cat walked into the Scottish SPCA's Wildlife Rescue Centre in Middlebank on Sunday with her head wedged in an empty pet food tin.

After the can was carefully removed she was checked over.

She has now been taken to the Edinburgh and Lothians Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Balerno, Edinburgh.

Colin Seddon, Scottish SPCA Wildlife Rescue Centre manager, said: "Luckily no damage was done and the little cat was very pleased to be freed from the discomfort that comes with having your head stuck inside a tin can.

"We think it's likely that she was scavenging and came across this discarded tin of cat food.

"She may have got the can stuck on her head and then became disorientated, it's lucky she wasn't hit by a car."

Mr Seddon added: "This only illustrates the fact that litter can pose a threat to both wild and domestic animals and we always encourage people to make sure they bag and bin their rubbish, it could save an animal's life."

The cat was wearing a distinctive collar printed with green cat's eyes.

Claws come out over shelter for Auschwitz cat

2010-02-15T10:36:00.000Z

A cat living at the former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz has caused fur to fly between an animal care group and Polish authorities refusing to allow a shelter to be built for it.

The grey and white cat, known variously as Rudolf or Bruno despite being female, can often be seen sitting near the notorious "Arbeit macht frei" ("Work sets you free") sign at the entrance to the camp.

She has seemed unperturbed by an unusually cold winter in Poland that has seen night temperatures dip as low as minus 34 degrees Celsius.

The museum that runs the camp has rejected a call from the group For Animals to build a cat shelter, saying other animals also live at the site and that visitors are its main priority.

"All we asked for was to erect a shelter, but we were refused," said Joanna Zaremba of the For Animals foundation.

A museum employee tried in vain to give the animal a home."The cat was not used to being indoors and the employee had to let her out to feel free. She came straight back (to the camp) like a boomerang, back to the 'Arbeit macht frei' gate," said Adam Cyra, another member of staff.

The cat is believed to have arrived at the camp about six months ago and started to attract the attention of visitors after Polish newspapers and web sites reported on the animal's attachment to the site and the campaign to build a shelter.

"I came especially to see this cat as I've heard so much about it in the local media," one Polish visitor told Reuters Television. "I'm ready to adopt the cat and give her a home."

While the cat has been staying near the entrance, a gang stole the "Arbeit macht frei" sign.

Polish police later recovered the sign, cut into three pieces, and arrested five suspects over the crime.

Up to 1.5 million people, mostly Jews, perished at Auschwitz during the Nazi occupation of Poland in World War Two.

The site, near the town of Oswiecim in southern Poland, received more than one million visitors last year.

Source: Reuters

Missy the cat gets world's first feline knee replacement

2010-02-11T11:41:00.000Z

The Daily Mail have a wonderful article about Missy who is the first cat in the world to have her knee replaced.

The eight-year-old family pet was stuck injured in a bush for two days with one hind leg broken in eight places and the other with a completely dislocated knee.

It was only because of her owners' relentless efforts that they found her.Ah bless Missy!

Charlie gets star treatment with professional photographer Victoria Tetley

2010-02-08T15:49:00.000Z

As you many have read on my blog, last week I had my own professional photography session with Liverpool and Cheshire photographer Victoria Tetley.

I was so excited to have my pictures taken, I love posing for the camera.

Anyway, we had a wild time - Victoria came to my house and brought me a special treat - a catnip mouse!

Victoria has been taking pictures for about ten years and worked at our sister paper the Chester Chronicle for eight years.

Now, after covering more than 9,000 stories, Victoria, 34, is focusing on her own business and has set up as a freelance snapper specialising in pets and portraits.

Working at the Chronicle, Victoria has met many well-known figures from Nigella Lawson to Prince Charles, although a few stand out over the years.

Victoria said: "Richard Madeley, who was doing a book signing at Cheshire Oaks, was such a genuinely nice guy. He spent a good five minutes talking to me about my job and what I hoped to do with my career, while I was quite conscious a huge queue were waiting to meet him.

"Another character was Boris Johnson, who was visiting Chester a few years ago, and I went to photograph him being given a guided tour through the city centre, and, unlike many celebrities, he shook my hand, asked my name and had a bit of a laugh. A very amiable man."

Although Victoria loved her job working for the newspaper, she realised taking pictures of people with their cats and dogs were her favourite subjects.

"It might take that bit longer to get the shot but it is definitely worth the wait."

Victoria's thankful for the years of experience she has gained and is looking forward to using her skills in her new business venture taking pictures of pets and people in picturesque locations.

And of course I was her best subject! Check out Victoria's website - click here!

Miaow for Now!

Charlie

Woman convicted after selling 'gothic kittens'

2010-02-06T10:03:00.000Z

This poor cat was being marketed online as a 'gothic kitten' by by Holly Crawford who live in Pennsylvania in America.

Crawford marketed 'gothic kittens' with ear and neck piercings over the Internet - she has now been convicted of animal cruelty.

The 35-year-old dog groomer will be sentenced on March 31. Crawford was charged in December 2008 after animal welfare officers took several kittens and a cat from her home.

Deputy district attorney David Pedri told jurors that Crawford inflicted pain upon three black kittens because, he alleged, "she thought it was neat" to sell gothic kittens on the Internet.

Defence attorneys argued that parents allow children to get pierced ears at young ages, and it would be wrong to hold cat owners to a higher standard. (A/P)

Is Oscar the cat the furry grim reeper?

2010-02-01T08:36:00.000Z

Can a cat really predict someone's death?Well five-year-old Oscar the cat seems to have an uncanny ability to predict when people are about to die.

The nursing home cat, seen here at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island, in America has even had a book written about him.

"Making Rounds With Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat" has been written by Dr David Dosa, who says that Oscar has correctly predicted 50 deaths in a five year period.

Oscar previously made it into the New England Journal of Medicine after the cat curled up next to 25 patients right before they died. The hospital even gave him a plaque for providing compassionate hospice care.

Dr Dosa said in an interview: "I wanted to write a book that would go beyond Oscar's peculiarities, to tell why he is important to family members and care givers who have been with him at the end of a life."

Oscar was adopted as a kitten from an animal shelter to be raised as a therapy cat at the nursing and rehabilitation centre, that cares for people with severe dementia and in the final stages of various illnesses.

When Oscar was about six months old the staff noticed he would curl up to sleep with patients who were about to die.

Oscar the cat

Dosa recounts one instance when staff were convinced of the imminent death of one patient but Oscar refused to sit with that person, choosing instead to be on the bed of another patient down the hallway.

Oscar proved to be right. The person he sat with died first, taking staff on the ward by surprise.Well, I love cats but Oscar can stay put for now!

Free RSPCA microchip event for your pets in Ormskirk

2010-01-25T10:04:00.000Z

The Southport, Birkdale & District Branch of the RSPCA is offering to microchip Ormskirk pets free of charge.

Pet owners can take their dogs, cats and rabbits to a special free microchipping event to be held on February 1, between 11am and 3 pm, at Ormskirk Cricket Club, Brook Lane Ormskirk.

The RSPCA believes that microchipping is the most reliable way of finding your pet if it is lost or stolen.

The quick and painless procedure places a small chip, the size of a grain of rice, underneath the animal's skin.

Each microchip has a unique number, which is then entered into a national database alongside the owner's name, address and telephone number.

The RSPCA's chief veterinary officer Steve Cheetham said: "Microchipping your pet provides the ultimate assurance that should your pet go missing it can be easily traced.

"Even the most pampered pets can stray too far from home and get lost or stolen but a microchip permanently links the pet and the owner to ensure a happy reunion should the worst happen."

The RSPCA asks pet owners to put their dogs on a lead while cats and rabbits need to be in a suitable carrier.

Owners of other small animals should check with the Animal Shelter before taking them to the Cricket Club.Further details can be obtained from the Animal Shelter in New Cut Lane Southportor by phone on 01704 567624

Casper the commuter cat killed in hit and run

2010-01-20T15:43:00.000Z

Casper the cat, famous for travelling around Plymouth on the number 3 bus has died after being hit by a car while crossing the road to catch his bus.

I wrote about Casper back in September, after his owner discovered how he hopped on the bus around 10am every morning and sat on the back seat throughout its entire 11 mile route.

The feline would travel around his home city of Plymouth in Devon, for up to an hour before arriving back at the same stop.

Devastated owner Susan Finden, 65, said whoever ran over her cat failed to stop and help him.

She said: 'Many people knew Casper, who loved everyone.

'He enjoyed the bus journeys. Sadly a motorist hit him and did not stop.

'Casper died from his injuries. He will be greatly missed - he was a much loved pet who had so much character. Thank you to all those who befriended him.'

Missing Hurricane Ike cat found over a year later

2010-01-20T15:34:00.000Z

This is a lovely heart-warming story.Juliet's cat Simon went missing when Hurricane Ike hit Webster in Texas in America over 16 months ago.

Juliet was studying in Paris at the time and Simon was staying with Juliet's mother. This Christmas, Juliet returned home after being gone a year and a half.

She had dreams of finding Simon alive and that she never gave up hope. "Just as I was ready to give up, I looked across the street and saw a small gray furball." It was Simon.

Don't you just love a happy ending! Click here to see an interview with Juliet.

Charlie's on Twitter!

2010-01-14T15:17:00.000Z

Hello my feline friends!Just to let you know - you can now follow me on Twitter!

You can find me at twitter.com/catchatcharlieYou won't ever need to miss a blog post, and you can find out what I get up to through out my day!

Love Charlie

Boston cat summoned for jury duty

2010-01-13T09:21:00.000Z

A cat in Boston in America was summoned for jury duty.Sounds like a practical joke, but it did happen as ABC's Channel 13 reported that feline Sal was called up.

Sal's owners Anna and Guy Esposito had to get a letter from the vet to excuse him from court.

Apparently, The Espositos think they may know the source of the mix up - Sal really is a member of the family, so on the last Census form, Anna listed him under "pets".

Anna said: "I just wrote 'Sal Esposito', scratched out the 'dog' and wrote 'cat'."

Eurovision Cat song

2010-01-11T11:02:00.000Z

I posed a question to fellow blogger Jamie McLoughlin on his Boom bang a blog, asking him whether any cats had been featured in Eurovision over its 54 years.

He told me there was a Finnish band in 1994 called CatCat. They didn't do anything particularly catlike on stage, however, they wore bodices and danced about in platform shoes.

Hillar Vimberg from Estonia also sung a song about a cat in the qualifying heats - it was called Cat Story (see video below). Unfortunately, it didn't get through. Never mind!

Snow cat: video and pictures of Charlie's first snow day!

2010-01-08T10:51:00.000Z

Charlie is loving the weather at the moment I can't keep him away from the snow!Check out this video!

Cat litter sales soar as big freeze sets in

2010-01-07T08:50:00.000Z

Poor Charlie - everyone's been out buying up all the cat litter to grit their roads with and now the poor man has none for his toilet!

With councils across Britain struggling to get hold of grit - people are finding alternatives to including table salt!

Asda say they've seen a 55% increase in sales of cat litter in the last 48 hours.

I went to my local Tesco and the shelves were practically empty - so Charlie has had to do his business outside - the only problem is once I let him out he won't come back in!He loves the snow!

Win signed copies of the Gruffalo author's new book Tabby McTat plus interview with Julia Donaldson

2009-12-15T13:58:00.000Z

Hello feline friends, Charlie here, I've given Gemma the day off.

I was well chuffed when Gemma brought home a copy of Julia Donaldson's new book Tabby McTat.

Julia is well-known for her books about the Gruffalo.Gemma was really lucky to grab a quick Cat Chat with Julia.

So, Julia tell me about Tabby McTat?
He's a busker's cat and he accidently gets separated from his owner and thinks he has been abandoned.

Where did you get the idea for the book from?
As a student I went busking in Paris to try and make a living. I write songs and poems. Then I thought 'what about writing a story about a busker whose best friends is a cat?'And it just went from there, plus I love cats - I have two I have two cats. Campsie is the mother cat, and Goblin is her big tough son. When I'm writing they have a habit of walking over my work with their dirty paws!

How did you become an author?
Like I mentioned before I write songs and I sent a tape of songs to the BBC.They started to use them on children's television programmes. One of my songs, "A Squash and a Squeeze" was made into a book in 1993 and that's when I turned my hand to writing books.

Axel Scheffler illustrates your book - how does that work? Do you tell him your ideas?
No. I write a story and send it to the publisher. Then the publisher sends it to Axel to illustrate and he does a great job, they always turn out better than I imagine them.

Gemma has four signed copies of Tabby McTat to give away. To win answer this question: What is the latin or scientific name for a cat?
Email your answers to catchatwithcharlie@live.co.ukThe winners will be announced in the New Year.

Dogs are better than cats? I don't think so...!

2009-12-10T15:48:00.000Z

I felt compelled to write this blog entry myself this week instead of my gorgeous assistant/owner Gemma.So

I have put claws to keyboard after spotting an article on the Telegraph website with my cat's eyes entitled, "Dogs are better than cats - at least scientifically speaking".

According to researchers, they have found that when it comes to a number of criteria including intelligence, bonding and obedience, dogs narrowly beat their feline adversaries.

I bet my catnip mouse these 'researchers' are dog lovers!Out of 11 categories selected by the magazine New Scientist, dogs won six compared with five for cats. I hardly call that a conclusive result!

Despite cats deemed overall to have a more powerful brain, dogs showed greater ability to understand commands, problem solve and were generally more helpful, it was said. Just because we don't do what you say, doesn't mean we don't understand!

Cats on the other hand had better acute senses, a smaller carbon footprint and their miaowing and purring was considered less intrusive than dogs barking and whining. Not only are we clever, we are doing our bit for climate change!

While dogs were thought to bond better with their owners especially as they appeared to offer unconditional love, cats were more independent and needed less care. This was all down to evolution said the scientists that pointed out that cats were generally loners and dogs pack animals. However the study admitted that despite the dog advantages, cats remained the most popular domestic animals in the world. The top 10 cat owning countries in the world had an estimated 204 million felines, compared the top 10 dog owing countries having fewer than 173 million canines.

Ha, we will rule the world - cats rule dogs drool!Charlie

Russell Brand wants a passport for cat to visit girlfriend Katy Perry

2009-12-08T20:09:00.000Z

Russell Brand wants his little kitty, Morrissey, to be able to travel with him to the States to visit his latest squeeze Katy Perry.

Asked whether he had resettled in Hollywood, Russell, 34, said: "I would never do that because the cat lives here, my cat, and someone has got to feed him... You can't just send him the occasional postcard saying things are going well - I've got to look after him."

He continued jokingly: "He hissed at me yesterday. I tried to explain to him but he doesn't understand concepts such as international travel and work. He certainly doesn't understand the concept of a bikini."

The comedian told GMTV: "I am getting him a pet passport which means he can travel around as much as he likes. Unfortunately, they don't do photos. I was really looking forward to that."

Forgetting Sarah Marshall actor Russell has been dating I Kissed A Girl star Katy since September.Yesterday, he was puckering up to presenter Lorraine Kelly under the mistletoe on the GMTV sofa.

He joked of his former womanising: "There was a deep craving within me. I mistook it for lust. I thought I was promiscuous. It turns out I was thorough.
"I'm happy. It's really nice and relaxing (being in a relationship)."

Russell has previously hinted that he could be ready to tie the knot, saying: "I'd love to marry Katy - hopefully it's heading that way."Today he said on marrying: "I don't know. That would be good. I do want to have children."

Weightwatchers cat in need of owner

2009-12-04T10:16:00.000Z

A rescue centre in Cambridgeshire is looking for a owner for a cat who could identify with a "food-obsessed" cat on a strict healthy eating plan.

His name is Higgins and when he came to the Block Fen Animal Centre he was bigger than a small dog.

Poor Higgins, I know whats its like to love your food! Garfield, eat your heart out!

Higgins weighed a "massive" 11kg in March but has managed to lose almost a third of its body weight. The RSPCA say that he is still very competitive for food.

He needs a very special new home as he is obsessed with food and will need someone who can commit to helping him towards a healthy lifestyle.

Cattery supervisor Rita Austin added: "He has a long way to go to reach his target weight, but we think Higgins will make the perfect companion, especially to anyone who can identify with the trials and tribulations of weight watching."

Cat survives 3,000-mile trip from Egypt in a container

2009-12-03T14:07:00.000Z

A cat endured a two week, 3,000-mile sea journey from Egypt to the UK in a shipping container.

The animal is thought to have survived its epic trip from Port Said to Felixstowe, Suffolk, by licking condensation from the inside of the container.

The male cat was only discovered when the container was unloaded by freight handers GMA Freight in Ipswich. Staff then alerted the RSPCA.The cat, nicknamed Pharaoh, is being held for six months' quarantine due to anti-rabies regulations.

Jon Biscoe, of GMA, said: "He was very scrawny. One of my colleagues gave him his sandwich. He ate the meat very quickly. He was very happy to see us."

Send me pictures of your Christmas Cats!

2009-12-01T15:49:00.000Z

Charlie is calling on all his feline friends to get festive!Next week we are launching Festive Pets across all our titles.But he is looking for Christmas Cats to feature on his blog.

Here he is with housemate Mitzy - Charlie wants to make sure she is looking her best!Charlie wants pictures of all sorts of cats, black, white, big, small - send your festive felines to me and we will feature one each day up until Christmas on Cat Chat.Email your pictures to catchatwithcharlie@live.co.uk.

Funny cute cat photos - what more do you want?

2009-11-29T15:24:00.005Z

I found this website which was created by Ben Huh, a journalism graduate from America, who after interning at a several newspapers decided he would have a more lucrative career path in: funny cat photo captions.

Huh, 31, is the big cheese behind www.Icanhascheezburger.com, the enormously popular blog revealing the inner feelings of felines.

His company, Pet Holdings Inc. of Seattle, is a burgeoning media empire with 27 other sites and counting.

Pet Holdings has been profitable since its founding in 2007. With a bare-bones staff of 22, it generates millions in annual revenue through advertising, merchandising and publishing.

The company's first book, a collection of so-called LOL - or laugh out loud - cat photos with captions, sat on the New York Times Bestseller list for 13 weeks.

I really recommend checking this website - you really will be in stitches.

Friendly cat gets cosy with policeman

2009-11-27T12:36:00.001Z

Check out this video of a very cute cat begging for some attention from a police officer who is trying to carry out a traffic stop in Taylor, Texas, US.

The black kitty was captured crawling up and down in a friendly display towards the cop on the patrol car's dashboard camera.

Taylor police officer Keith Urban is seen being patient with the cat, then finally gently booting the kitty away.

The Taylor Daily Press reports Urban had pulled over an SUV in the driveway of a farm lot. The video shows the cat scampering up and down on Urban, making its way to the officer's shoulders.

Police chief Jeff Straub says Urban never mentioned the feline encounter until he became concerned that the cat might have been injured when they parted ways.

Straub says the video shows "incredible patience on the part of the officer."

The collar-wearing cat fled.

Cat rescue earns goalkeeper a booking

2009-11-24T12:30:00.001Z

Saw this on BBC Sport:

Goalkeeper Ivan Banovic was booked after rescuing a pitch-invading cat during a top-flight match in Croatia.

Medjimurje Cakovec's Banovic picked up the wandering feline after it strayed on to the pitch 20 minutes into his team's match at Sibenik.

He placed it safely near a scoreboard but was then booked by the referee for leaving the pitch without permission.

Media reports said the official's actions annoyed fans, who barracked him for punishing Banovic's kind deed.

If the moggy was a home fan, it would been left purring as Sibenik won 1-0 to go second in the table.

Hello Kitty: The coolest cat turns 35

2009-11-11T11:12:00.003Z

I love Hello Kitty! I have Hello Kitty stationery, Hello Kitty car fresheners - even Hello Kitty seatbelt pads!

And now the Japanese creation is cool, quirky and cute and has reached the grand old age of 35 - now what is that in cat years?!

Just look at the docile little creature with red bow and yellow button nose. Who doesn't love her?

At her inception in the 1970s, few could have known that the cute cartoon would become a global phenomenon complete with a theme park, TV series and restaurant featuring an image of her sweet whiskered face baked into bread.

Indeed, Ms. Kitty has come a long way from her Japanese homeland. Christian Dior, Cynthia Rowley, Betsey Johnson and Kimora Lee Simmons have all hopped on the Hello Kitty pop icon bandwagon over the years, whisking the kitten around the world in high style.

Hello Kitty was created in Japan, in 1974, by Shintaro Tsuji as part of his greeting card company Sanrio.

After an in-house design contest, the little Sanrio kitten was born, and Hello Kitty quickly became popular, boosting Sanrio's sales in just two years and bringing her cute "kawaii" style to coin purses, diaries, stationery and notebooks.

The childlike Sanrio cat quietly made its way to the United States in 1976, only two years after she was invented, and remained relatively dormant until the 1990s.

As Hello Kitty matured into her late teens she was given her first boyfriend, Dear Daniel, an equally enigmatic fellow kitten with a spiky pompadour. Daniel tends to wear blue and, like Hello Kitty, he embodies the Sanrio values of sharing and friendship.

By 1995, the Sanrio star's fans were growing up along with the fetching feline, and not without frisky behavior: The New York Times that year noted that the kitty was popular in the rave scene.

Hello Kitty fans in their late teens and early 20s took to wearing such Hello Kitty merchandise as barrettes, watches and backpacks equipped with supplies for all-night parties.

In 1997, Hello Kitty was suspected of having a naughty streak (going feral, maybe?) when a licensee introduced a Hello Kitty shoulder massager that ended up being a popular item on adult store shelves.

The massager was taken off the market after a couple of years, but Hello Kitty's introduction into sexuality was born. By this time, Hello Kitty had blown up in the U.S. with the help of Grammy-winning darling Mariah Carey and other seductive celebrities who were captivated by the critter.

At the start of the millennium, Hello Kitty pitter-pattered into adulthood with an assist from top designers, who helped her develop into a regal, elegant icon while keeping her youthful charm.

For Kitty's 30th anniversary, the bouncy Betsey Johnson designed a flashy, three-tiered pink dress in honor of the kitten, while the chic Cynthia Rowley created a simple yet classic Hello Kitty design for an Airstream trailer.

But nowhere has Hello Kitty's foray into adulthood been more present than in her collaboration with Kimora Lee Simmons, which began in 2004.

"I thought how can we make this bigger and better than just some little notepad?" Simmons says.

Simmons, designer for Baby Phat and Simmons Jewelry Co., crafted a line of high-end jewellery featuring Hello Kitty's face plated in diamonds and platinum, selling the top-dollar designs at tony stores such as Neiman Marcus.

To those unfamiliar with the lure of the brand, the success of the jewellery has been surprising, but not for the model-mom-mogul.

"Who doesn't love Kitty? Everyone from Paris Hilton to me, to Kelly Ripa, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Tyra Banks, Iman. I mean everybody loves Kitty," Simmon says.

She adds that though she is a woman in her 30s she adores the timeless inner youth that the Sanrio icon represents. Simmons even designed a blue pendant of the kitten for Vogue's editor-at-large AndrÃƒÂƒÃ‚Â© Leon Talley.

This isn't the first time the moon-faced creature has made an impression on Vogue.

Christian Dior featured his collection in Japanese Vogue in 2008 with the stubby white feline as a model for his designs.

Further confirming Dior and Simmons' view of the pop icon as fit for grown-ups, a Hello Kitty-themed maternity hospital recently opened its doors in Taiwan.

The hospital chose the cartoon theme hoping to ease the stress of childbirth and increase business. The facility features Hello Kitty baby blankets and nurses in pink uniforms with kitten-themed aprons, proof that a whimsical world follows the feline along with her maturing fans.

The wave of celebrations including a sushi workshop, karaoke night and a Halloween party over the last few days suggests that Sanrio's little kitty has come a long way from her early years as a schoolgirl obsession.

As for the adorable Japanese kitten's future in 2010? Her popularity shows no signs of slowing.

Lady Gaga was recently shot by famed photographers Markus Klinko and Indrani swathed in a remarkable gown of stuffed Hello Kittys.

Janet Hsu, president of Sanrio Global Consumer Products, expects to keep welcoming up-and-coming designers to the Hello Kitty family, and knowing the little Nov. 1 Scorpio, there will be some mischief along the way.

Source: Los Angeles Times.

Cat catches swine flu in America

2009-11-08T14:15:00.003Z

Reuters are reporting the first case of swine flu in a cat in Iowa.

The 13-year-old short-haired cat has tested positive for H1N1 swine flu, the first time a cat has been diagnosed with the new pandemic strain, the American Veterinary Medical Association confirmed.

The animal likely contracted the virus from its owners, veterinarians say, since two of the three family members living in the cat's household had recently suffered from influenza-like illness.

The cat, a 16-pound orange tabby, began acting lethargic and lost his appetite.

He is the only pet in the house and never goes outside. The cat, described as "large framed but not chubby," stopped eating and drinking and stopped cleaning himself.

He also rested by hunching on all four feet, rather than sprawling out on his side as usual, a sign of respiratory discomfort. A few days earlier, two out of three family members in the home had developed flu-like symptoms, with fever and body aches.

His owners brought him to Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine for treatment.

The family mentioned to the vet that they had also recently battled illness, which led to testing the pet for H1N1.

Pigs are the original source of the H1N1 virus and it has been found in several herds, as well as in a pet ferret. Ferrets are especially susceptible to human influenza viruses.

"Two of the three members of the family that owns the pet had suffered from influenza-like illness before the cat became ill," Iowa Department of Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Ann Garvey said in a statement.

"This is not completely unexpected, as other strains of influenza have been found in cats in the past." Both the cat and its owners have recovered from their illnesses.

It's not yet clear how vulnerable cats, dogs and other household animals may be to the new virus, but the Iowa cat's case reinforces just how different H1N1 is from seasonal flu viruses.

Although some household cats and certain wild cats in zoos have gotten ill with avian influenza, and dogs have their own canine version of the flu virus, pets don't normally get sick with the regular human flu.

"There has never been a report of human seasonal influenza affecting cats or dogs." says Dr. Julie Levy, director of Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at the College of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Florida.

It's possible that the Iowa cat's case may be a bellwether of future pet disease, but it's also possible it was just a fluke event.

At the cat's advanced age, its immune system may not have been as adept at fending off influenza as that of a younger animal - similar to the vulnerability seen in aging humans.

Dr. Ann Garvey Garvey notes that despite nearly 25,000 cases of positive, lab-confirmed H1N1 in people reported in the U.S. since last spring, the Iowa cat is the first pet to be documented with the virus.

But before pet owners start suspecting Fido and Fluffy of being H1N1 hotbeds, Garvey stresses that so far, no cases of influenza of any kind in pets - including cases of bird flu - are known to have moved from animals into people.

And even among the animals, the virus does not appear to spread easily, which may further suggest that pets are not ideal reservoirs for influenza.

That's good news for pet lovers and flu worriers.

And so is the fact that the cat seems to be recovering well from its bout with H1N1.

As for anyone else who is worried about spreading H1N1 flu to their pets, wash your hands frequently, cover your coughs and try to avoid close contact with your furry friends until you're well.

Tiny is the official cat of the Wookey Hole Witch

2009-11-03T13:24:00.003Z

This moggy from Edgware, London has been awarded the most sought after job for a cat of its class - the official cat of the Wookey Hole Witch.

The nationwide competition launched earlier this month when pet insurer, Petplan, specified a strict witchy criteria to separate superior felines from the cat-pack.

The Halloween job hunt saw Tiny beat stiff competition from 12 other magic moggies to see his portrait take pride of place at Wookey Hole and be her apprentice cat of choice.

Tiny walked into his owner's life three years ago, as if by magic, just after her previous cat had passed away. He boasts a cauldron black shade of fur combined with moonshine yellow eyes and pitch perfect meow.

The Wookey Witch said: "Tiny caught my eye immediately as he chose his owner, with a single minded loyalty befitting of a witch's cat.

"Competition was fierce but Tiny pipped the others to the role due to his ability to catch almost anything and guard his territory so fearlessly."

Tiny's owners receive a £250 donation to their animal charity of choice, a £100 animal gift hamper, a framed picture of Tiny in his new role as a witch's cat, plus transport and entry to Wookey Hole to view his portrait in its pride of place at the Wookey Hole caves.

Happy Halloween - check out my pumpkin cat!

2009-10-31T17:34:00.006Z

Hey everyone!

Just spent the day carving my pumpkin - check out this scary black cat!

Have you created any of your own pumpkin designs? Email gemma.jaleel@liverpool.com and I will display the best ones on my blog!

Cat Trivia and Quiz

2009-10-30T14:32:00.009Z

Cats are funny creatures - check out this clip of Charlie playing with my dog Mitzy in the back garden!

In fact, Charlie and I were having a discussion the other day and he was telling me all sorts of things about his species.

*Did you know people should never pick up cats by the nape of the neck? Only a mother cat knows how to do that carefully and safely.

*Charlie says that cats have a third eyelid, called a "haw", but we only see that when he isn't feeling well.

For more funny cat facts and a little quiz, see below:

*Did you know that cats can see six times better at night than humans can? Charlie has very pretty yellow eyes, but all cats have blue eyes when they are born.

*Some of them start to change colour at about three weeks.

*Many cats lack the necessary gene required to be affected by catnip, but Charlie goes mad for it!

*Charlie has four rows of whiskers on either side of her face. The top two rows move independently from the bottom two. He says it's because the whiskers help measure openings. He can only fit through an opening as long as either side doesn't touch his whiskers. Pretty cool, huh!

*Charles has a really cute nose, but did you know that's not the only way he smells? He has something called the Jacobson's organ, which is located in the upper surface of the mouth.

*Did you know a cat, left to its own devices may have three to seven kittens every four or five months?

*This means that during a cat's lifetime, she can have up to 2,100 kittens in a 10-year life span. This is why spaying and neutering is so important.

*Charlie said when he was a stray, he would use her homing ability to get back to the place he started but I don't think it worked because he walked into my life.

*He uses her biological clock, the angle of the sun, and the earth's magnetic field to get back home. Who knew cats were this smart?

*Did you know cats are three times more likely to contract rabies than dogs? They cover more territory, they roam freely and spend a large part of their time at night, increasing their chance of running into a rabid animal.

*Rabies vaccinations are so important to cats. Please make sure your cat visits the vet every year for this.

*Cats have over 100 vocal sounds. Dogs have only about 10. Charlie says you can learn a lot about a cat by its tail.

*First of all, a cat's tail has 32 muscles. You can tell how a cat is feeling by how it controls its tail. For instance, a cat's tail held high means happiness.

*A twitching tail is a warning sign and a tail tucked in close to the body is a sign of insecurity. Cats step with both left legs, then both right legs when they walk or run. The only other animals that do this are giraffe and camel.

*Charlie says she ages differently than I do. A cat that is one year old is equivalent to 16 human years. The second year, a cat ages eight human years, and each year after that, about four human years.

*This means a six-year-old cat is equivalent to 40 human years!

*God help me when Charlie turns one in a few year!

Test your knowledge in Charlie's Cat Quiz below:

1) How many breeds of cat is there?

2) What is group of cats called?

3) What is a group of kittens called?

4) Charlie says that, in Egypt, entire families would do what to show they were in mourning when the family cat died?

5) How many cats is there in the world? a) 420 million 6) 800 million or c) 600 million?

6) Which ancient civilization is widely believed to have been the first to domesticate cats?

7)Which breed of long-haired cat became popular in Britain during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria?

8)At about what age does a domestic cat reach puberty?

9) Which two pigment colors form the basis for all coat colors in the modern domestic cat?

10) Which breed of short-haired cat is known for its rabbitlike gait and the absence of a tail?

11) A cat's "righting reflex" allows it to: a) Find its way around even in the dimmest light
b) Always land on four feet when falling from a reasonable height
c) Retract or extend its claws immediately
d) Look more imposing by arching its back and raising its fur?

12)Allergies to cats are one of the most common allergies in humans. What causes cat allergies in people?

13) What breed of hairless cat, first bred in Canada in 1966, was given full Championship Class status in 2002 by the Cat Fanciers' Association?

14) British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber's successful musical "Cats" (1981) was based on which work of literature: a) "Cat That Walked by Himself" (1902) by Rudyard Kipling
b) "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" (1865) by Lewis Carroll
c) "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" (1939) by T. S. Eliot
d) "The Cat in the Hat" (1957) by Dr. Seuss

15) A polydactyl cat has extra a) hair b) toes or c) whiskers?

Answers

1) About 100.

2) A clowder.

3) A kindle.

4) Shaved off their eyebrows.

5) There are an estimated 600 million house cats in the world. With a human population of roughly 6.6 billion, there's one house cat for every 10 people on the planet.

6) Most people agree that the domestic cat descended from the Caffre cat, a small breed of African wildcat that was domesticated in ancient Egypt, possibly as early as 2500 BC.

7) The correct answer is a Persian. Persians became popular in 19th-century Britain during Queen Victoria's reign; she and other members of the royal family kept blue Persians.

8) The domestic cat usually reaches puberty at around 9 or 10 months of age.

9) Two pigments, black and orange, form the basis for all coat colors in the modern domestic cat. These pigments may be combined with each other or with white (the absence of pigment). A single gene, the O (Orange) gene, determines whether a cat's coat contains black or orange pigment. The O gene can be thought of as a switch that is either on (orange) or off (black). The gene is located on the X chromosome, so its inheritance is sex-linked.

10) Manx is a breed of short-haired cat native to the Isle of Man, a British island off the coast of Great Britain. Although there are many stories about how tailless cats first came to the island, it is most likely that the genetic mutation originated there.

11) A cat's "righting reflex" allows it to always land on four feet. A cat reflexively rights itself when its head is not square with the ground - thus, when dropped or when falling through the air from a reasonable height, the animal lands on its feet regardless of the position in which it begins its descent. Its supple spine allows it to twist midair and, given enough room, the cat's muscles relax, minimizing injury upon impact. Because this reflex coordinates input from both the eyes and the middle ear, newborn kittens whose eyes have not yet opened do not fall so gracefully.

12)A protein in the cat's skin and saliva causes a reaction in people with cat allergies, leading to itching, sneezing and other allergy symptoms. For allergic people who wish to have a cat, allergists recommend keeping the cat out of the bedroom; bathing the cat, if the cat tolerates washing; using air purifiers to remove allergens; and, in some cases, receiving injections to desensitize the body against the allergen.

13)The Sphynx, a breed of hairless cat, the result of a natural mutation.

14) British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber's successful musical "Cats" (1981) was based on poet T. S. Eliot's book for children, "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" (1939). "Cats" the musical is an almost plotless story about a group of cats in a junkyard.

15)A polydactyl cat is a cat with more than usual number of toes on one or more of its paws as a result of a genetic mutation. Normal cats have four toes and one dewclaw (thumb) on each front paw and four toes on each hind paw. Polydactyl cats may have as many as seven digits on front and/or hind paws.

How many did you get right?!

CAT-astrophe averted after cat survives two miles in car engine

2009-10-22T16:12:00.004+01:00

I picked this up from NBC New York. This poor cat survived a two-mile drive stuck in the engine of a car.

The stray cat had apparently crawled into the engine of a Nissan Murano.

The car's owner, Wilfredo Rodriguez, drove the car for two miles and noticed a rattling sound while he was driving.

Stopping the car to check the engine, Wilfredo saw a cat's tail and paw sticking out from under the hood.

Wilfredo told NBC news: "I said, 'Oh my God! I killed a cat.'"

Not quite. The cat was alive. It was extricated from the car's engine and handed over to the city's Animal Care & Control.

Talk about a purring engine!

Novi Sad Cats - Cat shelter in Serbia

2009-10-14T12:50:00.001+01:00

I found this lovely blog about and cat shelter for homeless cats in Serbia.

The shelter in Novi Sad and the blog is all about the cats and the staff that look after them.

They also upload videos and give daily updates on the cats come through their doors.

The shelter is funded by donations and some of the cats are really cute - so take a look!

Charlie visits Woodlands Cat Hotel in Holmeswood

2009-10-08T12:46:00.003+01:00

WHEN I heard about a cat hotel in Holmeswood, I knew there was only one fella - or rather feline could take with me - my kitty Charlie.

Woodlands Cat Hotel based at Woodlands Animal Sanctuary on Sandy Lane has been open for 15 years and offers 24 hour care for tabbies while their owners are away.

Owner Jacqui McDerby, an avid cat lover from a young age, runs the hotel with her family including daughter Vickie.

Jacqui used to breed and show pedigree Siamese cats for a number of years before going into rescue work which led her to becoming coordinator of the Southport and District Branch of the Cats Protection for over 10 years.

She is now founder and trustee of Woodlands Animal Sanctuary.

The same love of cats prompted her to open Woodlands Cat Hotel to enable all cats to enjoy her high standard of love and attention whilst their owners are on holiday.

Vickie, 25, said: "My mum's been looking after cats and kittens for over 20 years. Cats that are ill or strays.

"The place just grew and grew and as well as cats people were bringing rabbits, guinea pigs, sheep, goats and birds."

In 2005, Woodlands Animal Sanctury was officially registered as a charity and cares for unwanted and neglected farm animals, small domestic animals and species of native wildlife that, over the years, have been given to them to care for.

"We solely run on donations and that's where the cat hotel comes in we use the profits from it to put back into the sanctuary."

Charlie was given a guided tour of the hotel by Vickie and spent time in the spacious sleeping quarters alongside residents Rocky and Ellie.

Vickie added: "They are fully heated and each pen has a ladder giving access to the lower floor and their toilet.

"At the moment Rocky is staying with us and he has diabetes and must have insulin every day. We cater for all sorts of cats."

So what was Charlie's verdict? Woodlands Cat Hotel is a purrfect place to stay.

If you would like more information about the hotel or sanctuary or are interesting in volunteering your time visit www.animalsanctuary.org.uk or call 01704-823293.

Sampson goes 500 miles - and is found a year later

2009-09-24T16:48:00.003+01:00

THE BBC love their cat stories.

This time a missing cat was found almost 500 miles away from his Scottish home, more than a year after he went missing.

Sampson was handed in to a vet centre in Plymouth, Devon, 478 miles away from Penicuik in Midlothian.

The cat, who had been thought to be a stray in Plymouth, was identified by a micro-chip, and has been reunited with owner Linda Jansen.

Ms Jansen said: "Forget the Proclaimers, my cat really did walk 500 miles."

She said: "I have no idea how he travelled so far. He may have been trying to get home but was walking in the wrong direction."

Ms Jansen and her two daughters Kirsten, 12, and Lauren, 16, first rescued Sampson from a cat sanctuary in the Borders.

She said: "A lot of people knew him. He was such a character and really was the man of the house, it was so strange when he went missing and we couldn't find him."

She had given up hope of seeing her the cat again and even crossed his name off at his vet.

Then she received a call from the Woodlands Veterinary Surgery in the Devon town.

She said: "I couldn't sleep at all after I got the call. I had given up on seeing him again. The odd thing is that he is a very bad traveller, he always gets car sick when he travels so I can't imagine him lasting on a long road trip like that."

Because of the distances involved Ms Jansen was unsure how to bring Sampson home and approached Edinburgh-based Eagle Couriers to find out about shipping charges.

After hearing the full story the firm then offered to transport the cat for free.

Director Fiona Deas said: "His is one of the most amazing pet stories I have ever heard. I don't suppose we'll ever find out how the animal ended up on the south coast of England, but we can make sure it gets home safely.

"As an animal lover myself I can't even begin to imagine the kind of shock and elation the owner must be feeling at the moment."

Casper the Commuter Cat

2009-09-20T17:11:00.002+01:00

Another purrfectly brilliant story here off the BBC website.

A cat has become such a well-known user of a Devon bus service that its drivers know where to let him off.

Casper has been queuing with other passengers to get the number three service from his home in Plymouth for months, bus company First said.

It added that he often sat in the queue and then quietly padded on board and curled up on a seat for the ride.

Casper's owner Susan Finden, 55, who picked him from a rescue home in 2002, said he had always been a free spirit.

Mrs Finden said she named her pet after Casper the Friendly Ghost, as he has a habit of wandering off.

Ah bless!

Cat round-up: this is highly addictive

2009-09-18T16:39:00.005+01:00

I've found this really addictive game.

It reminds me of trying to get Charlie to come in of an evening and I end up chasing him all around the garden.

You might not wanna try this at work though - you won't get much done!

Hugo the cat saves a man from burning house

2009-09-15T16:24:00.004+01:00

I READ this cracking story on the BBC website about a pet cat who saved a man from his burning home.

Hugo, a grey and white moggy, came to his neighbour Andrew Williams' rescue, when a fire broke out at his bungalow in Bracknell in Berkshire.

Andrew, who was asleep at the time, awoke in the smoke filled house to Hugo clawing at the father-of two's face.

Hugo came through a cat-flap to wake up Andrew.

Rescuers said that the fire could have killed him if he had not been awoken by Hugo.

Hugo and his brother Harvey are regular visitors to the cat lover's home.

A spokesman for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue said: "We are delighted that this very fire-aware cat was able to alert the family on this occasion.

"This just highlights the importance of having working smoke detectors inside your home."

What a hero Hugo was!

How are things Cat Chatters?

2009-07-10T15:57:00.009+01:00

Hey cat watchers - I'm back so sorry for no posts I've been so busy with my job - but I've still been on the lookout for some great cat stories.

First, Nora the piano playing cat who is sweeping the world by storm, so much so she has had a piece of chamber music written for her by acclaimed Lithuanian conductor.

Nora's musical skills have made her a Youtube sensation, US media star, and also the object of a video on animal behaviour.

Mindaugas Piecaitis's four-minute piece for the Klaipeda chamber orchestra had its premiere, with a video of the six-year-old feline soloist in the background.

Meanwhile I've been having battles with my cat Charlie to stop him from killing things (see above for Chalie out on the prowl in the garden).

First it was voles then wood pigeons - any suggestions?

Tips to keeping your cat safe on Bonfire Night

2009-05-11T13:24:00.006+01:00

Remember, remember the fifth of November!

Bonfire Night and fireworks can be distressing for all pets not just cats.

I spoke to RSPCA inspector Ian Robertson for some tips to keeping Charlie safe on Bonfire night.

This is the advice he gave me:

Tip 1: Remember that these days, fireworks and Bonfire tend to last more than night, so think about keeping nocturnal cats in for the next fortnight.

Tip 2: Make sure your cat comes in before it gets dark.

Tip 3: If you go out put the TV or radio on, familiar noises can help a distressed pet and block out the sounds of fireworks.

Tip 4: Draw the curtains and blinds to stop the fireworks flashes coming in.

Tip 5: Keep the same routine with food and water as not to disrupt a cats routine.

Tip 6: Make sure the cat has a collar, chip and name tag, just in case he does manage to escape.

Tip 7: Also think about pets in hutches or cages - bring them indoors or into a shed or garage.

Tip 8: Exercise your dog before the fireworks start.

Tip 9: Some pets especially dogs get highly distraught, consider getting some medication from the vet for a couple of days to keep your dog calm.

Tip 10: Make sure there are no animals like hedgehogs or cats in your bonfire - check before you light it.

Ian added: "If you decide to use indoor party poppers think about your pets. Maybe put them upstairs or in the next room.

"Ultimately you know how your pet will react, so take care of them."

World's Ugliest Cat?

2009-03-02T13:30:00.005Z

One seriously cool cat has been hitting the headlines this week.

Ugly Bat Boy or Uggs for short belongs to vet Stephen Bassett.

He is furless except for his chest, which sports a thick mane.

The cat, 8, was adopted by Stephen who runs the Exeter Veterinary Hospital, in New Hampshire, USA.

He was born in a litter with three other cats, and his sisters have the same look as him.

Hospital staff say the curious cat can scare and mesmerise people.

The cat's favorite domain is atop the warm computers around the office - where he routinely gets in the way - and where a visitor recently snapped a photo and emailed it to friends.

That sparked a media juggernaut which now has The Ellen DeGeneres show trying to book a guest appearance.

My chat with Charlie

2009-02-26T17:13:00.003Z

Charlie and I were having a discussion the other day and he was telling me all sorts of things about his species.

There are about 100 breeds of cats. A group of cats is called a “clowder,” but a group of kittens is called a “kindle.”

Charlie says that, in Egypt, entire families would shave their eyebrows as a sign of mourning when the family cat died.

People should never pick up cats by the nape of the neck. Only a mama cat knows how to do that carefully and safely.

Charlie says that cats have a third eyelid, called a “haw.” We’ll only see that when she isn’t feeling well.

Did you know that cats can see six times better at night than humans can! Charlie has very pretty yellow eyes, but all cats have blue eyes when they are born.

Some of them start to change colour at about three weeks.

Many cats lack the necessary gene required to be affected by catnip, but Charlie goes mad for it!

Charlie has four rows of whiskers on either side of her face. The top two rows move independently from the bottom two.

He says it’s because the whiskers help measure openings. He can only fit through an opening as long as either side doesn’t touch his whiskers. Pretty cool, huh!

Charles has a really cute nose, but did you know that’s not the only way he smells?

He has something called the Jacobson’s organ, which is located in the upper surface of the mouth.

Did you know a cat, left to its own devices may have three to seven kittens every four or five months?!

This means that during a cat’s lifetime, she can have up to 2,100 kittens in a 10-year life span. This is why spaying and neutering is so important.

Charlie said when he was a stray, he would use her homing ability to get back to the place he started but I don't think it worked because he walked into my life.

He uses her biological clock, the angle of the sun, and the earth’s magnetic field to get back home. Who knew cats were this smart?

Did you know cats are three times more likely to contract rabies than dogs? They cover more territory, they roam freely and spend a large part of their time at night, increasing their chance of running into a rabid animal.

Rabies vaccinations are so important to cats. Please make sure your cat visits the vet every year for this.

Cats have over 100 vocal sounds. Dogs have only about 10. Charlie says you can learn a lot about a cat by its tail.

First of all, a cat’s tail has 32 muscles. You can tell how a cat is feeling by how it controls its tail. For instance, a cat’s tail held high means happiness.

A twitching tail is a warning sign and a tail tucked in close to the body is a sign of insecurity. Cats step with both left legs, then both right legs when they walk or run. The only other animals that do this are giraffe and camel.

Charlie says she ages differently than I do. A cat that is one year old is equivalent to 16 human years. The second year, a cat ages eight human years, and each year after that, about four human years.

This means a six-year-old cat is equivalent to 40 human years!

God help me when Charlie turns one in a few months!

Can cats sniff out cancer?

2009-02-24T17:06:00.000Z

That's right folks - apparently cats can sniff out cancer.

In Calgary, Alberta, USA, one kitty warned owner Lionel Adams that he had a cancerous tumor in his leg.

How, because clearly cats can not speak or dance yet that we know of? Well, the cat by the name of Tiger, would point to it every night with his paw.

Lionel said: "He would climb into bed and take his paw and drag it down my left side - he was adamant there was something there, and it was right where the cancer was."

When Lionel went to the hospital, surgeons later removed a tumor the size of a soda can.

Take that, dog owners!

Poor Socks President Clinton's cat passes away

2009-02-23T20:53:00.005Z

I was sorry to hear that the famous cat that lived in the White House while President Clinton was in office has passed away.

"Socks" was put to sleep Friday at the age of 19 after suffering from cancer of the jaw. Socks had been living in Washington with Clinton's former White House secretary, Betty Currie. Curry said she planned to have Socks cremated.

Can you train cats?

2009-02-18T11:59:00.009Z

Our American cousins seem to think so according to the BBC - check out their report.

They have started cat training classes but I'm a bit dubious.

Charlie does what he likes when he likes, although he does come when I call him - even if he's halfway up a tree at the end of our back garden.

I'd like to see them train Charlie to come out of his tunnel without a fight!

ASBO 'killer cats' tagged for bird study

2009-02-16T13:28:00.013Z

Domestic cats are to be tagged by scientists in a bid to discover how damaging they are to urban bird populations.

According to the Telegraph, researchers at the University of Reading believe family pets could be responsible for killing up to 10,000 small animals annually per square kilometre in urban areas, significantly affecting some urban bird species.

The scientists looked at the hunting and feeding habits of 200 cats and their owners in nine, one kilometre squared areas around Reading, Berkshire, collecting the birds and small animals they brought home – estimated in a previous study to be 30 per cent of those they killed.

I know when I let Charlie out for the first time a couple of months ago, I dreaded what he would bring back but to my knowledge he hasn't caught anything...yet.

He's definitely honing his pouncing skills. Yesterday I dangled his toy mouse off the end of the bed and he nearly had my hand off, bless him!

Kittens

2009-02-13T13:07:00.012Z

The Guardian have this video in their video viral chart - bit bizarre, but she obviously loves kittens!

Here's another you have to see of the ninja cat enjoy!

The cat that loves to shower

2009-02-13T08:38:00.005Z

Spotted this in the Telegraph, Chloe the Persian cat who loves to take a shower.

Her owner Phil Gardner gave her a wash and trim after her coat became matted.

Bracing himself for some scratches, Mr Gardner put Chloe in the bath and turned on the shower, cautiously wetting her coat.

But instead of the anticipated attack, Chloe settled down and relaxed at the warm water cascaded over her head.

Superb!

Can people safely eat cat food?

2009-02-11T08:46:00.004Z

The American Dietetic Association did a study to see if humans could eat cat food.

I found this article on popsci.com:

Let's take a look at the ingredients in a typical can of cat food: meat by-products, chicken by-product meal, turkey by-product meal, ash, taurine.

Nothing too horrible, but in general, these things don't constitute a healthy human diet, says Dawn Jackson Blatner, a registered dietitian with the American Dietetic Association.

"That said, I'm fully confident that your body can handle kitty chow."

Your liver, kidneys and skin do a terrific job of removing foreign substances from the body, especially mild ones like those found in cat food.

"Technically, you could safely digest a baseball," Blatner says. Perhaps the worst stuff in cat food is the high mineral content in the ash, but your body would clear that out quickly.

Actually, the ingredients listed on the organic blends of cat food sound pretty tasty.

There is a pet shop near where I live that sells Applaws Natural Cat Food.

To show us how natural it is the shopowner opened up a can and started to eat it.

I got some for Charlie and he loves it. His favourite food is cheese.

Cats in the News

2009-02-10T13:37:00.003Z

There's been some stowaway cats hitting the headlines in the last couple of weeks.

From BBC and Dereham Times:

First, there was Lucy the fiesty feline from Great Massingham who took a whistle-stop tour of West Norfolk.

The short-haired tabby and white cat, who is nearly three, got into a space near the lorry's air brake and axle.

She was only found when staff at Supreme Carpets in Dersingham heard her cries thinking she had been run over.

It is thought the cat hopped on board the lorry in Mildenhall in Suffolk when it stopped for 45 minutes.

The lorry had travelled from Chelmsford in Essex, via Mildenhall, to Dersingham, stopping very briefly at King's Lynn.

Her owner Rob Petto said Lucy's travels began when she saw an opportunity for a ride in the back of a delivery van near her house early on Wednesday morning last week.

“A delivery driver stopped to unload his cargo and left the doors open. Lucy got into the van and then got out at the next stop on Norfolk Street in King's Lynn.

“She had been in the back and must have been quite scared, she jumped out and scarpered.”

Mr Petto and his father Alan, who also looks after Lucy, spent hours looking for their pet in King's Lynn but she had already hitched a ride to Dersingham, where she was found later on in the morning.

“She does like to get into cars but this is the first time she has taken a long journey, although her brother Homer once jumped on the bus to King's Lynn.”

It was originally thought the stowaway had boarded the carpet lorry in Mildenhall and clung on for more than 42 miles.

Then there was Manuel the kitten who survived a journey from Portugal to Northamptonshire in a lorry when he was only 10 days old and has now been released to an animal charity.

Manuel the kitten has been in quarantine for six months since he survived the three-day journey and is now looking for a new home. Aaaaahhhhhh!

Look At This Cat

2009-02-10T00:25:00.000Z

I found this website called lookatthiscat.com where you look at cats and rate how good they look!

Looks like I'm not the only nut!

Welcome to Cat Chat

2009-02-05T17:06:00.001Z

I am a mad cat lady!

I have a black and white short-haired kitten Charlie who wondered into my work office one day last September and I've had him ever since.

He is about 10 months old now and is the most handsome cat you will ever meet!

As I write this he is creeping up the stairs, thinking I can't see him - he's so cute!

So that's the little intro to my blog.

Bye from me and bye from Charlie better known as 'The King' xxxx